Apparatus and method for marine push towing



Dec. 30, 1969 H. E. BREIT, JR

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MARINE PUSH TOWING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1968 wwk Q E H United States Patent 3,486,476 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MARINE PUSH TOWING Hjalmar E. Breit, Jr., 441 Gravier St., New Orleans, La. 70130 Filed Sept. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 759,883 Int. Cl. B63b 21/56 US. Cl. 114-235 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In combination for ocean push-towing a tug having longitudinal rubbing strakes or fenders extending on each side thereof from above and also abaft the tugs center of gravity to adjacent to tugs stem; and a barge having a stern deeply indented to define a receiving slip therein for receiving said tug past said center of gravity, said receiving slip having side walls defining a plurality of opposing pairs of vertically-spaced, parallel longitudinal channels, each pair of channels being adapted to cooperate with the rubbing fenders or strakes of said tug according to the relative drafts existing therebetween, said tug being held in rigid relationship with said barge in said receiving slip by said rubbing strakes or fenders engaging in a pair of said longitudinally opposing channels defined in said side Walls.

The invention relates generally to ocean push towing and more particularly to an apparatus and method for rigidly joining and rapidly separating a push type tug and a barge having an indented stern.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple method and apparatus for rigidly. joining and rapidly separating a push type tug and a barge for ocean use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims and the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the tug and barge in joined conditions with the receiving part or slip of the barge and a part of the tug shown in phantom,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1 showing tug rubbing fenders engaged in barge channels, and

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view along section lines 3--3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 the barge is provided with a deeply indented stem 12 defining a slip 14 for engaging a tug 16- at least beyond the tugs center of gravity 17. The indented sides 18 and 20 defining the slip are oppositely serrated to provide a plurality of parallel longitudinal channels 22 spaced vertically apart above the water line. The tug 16 is a usual pusher type having port and starboard rubbing fenders or strakes 24 extending longitudinally adjacent the bow 26 to well aft of the center of gravity 17 of the tug. These rubbing strakes 24 extends longitudinally with the deck 28 and project laterally beyond the sides 30 of the tug and are cooperatively sized to fit in the channels 22 defined in the sides of the slip 14.

To engage the tug with barge for push towing the tug is driven by its propeller 32 slowly into the indented slip 14 to engage a pair of opposing parallel channels 22 0 "lee on each side thereof with its rubbing strake 24, the engaged channels 22 being the ones engageable in accordance with the relative drafts of the barge and the tug. When the tug is fully engaged in the slip 14 it is rigidly attached to the barge by its rubbing strakes and the two vessels in effect become one for push towing. When it is desired to disengage the tug 16 from the barge 10, it is merely necessary to back down with the propeller 32 of the tug and disengage the rubbing strakes from the engaged channels 22 and the two vessels can then operate independently.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the engagement of the strakes in the upper channels 22 of the slip 14.

To prevent a premature disengagement when stopping the tow (see FIG. 2), the tug may be secured in the slip 14 by means of lines 36 fastened to and around bollards 34 and to quick release means 38.

The invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity but it should be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that various changes could be made in combination and arrangement of parts without departing in spirit and scope of the invention as herein described.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of rigidly joining and rapidly separating a pusher tug, having rubbing strakes extending longitudinally about length of the tug and transversely beyond the sides of said tug, and a barge, having a deeply indented stern defining a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of longitudinal chanels, comprising the steps: of driving said tug forward into said deeply indented stern; engaging said tug rubbing strakes in a pair of said plurality of pairs of vertically spaced opposing channels in accordance with the relative drafts of said tug and barge: maintaining the forward drive of said tug to rigidly unite the tug with the barge; and backing down said tug to separate it from said barge when desired.

2. An improved marine push towing combination comprising a tug having a bow, a center of gravity, and sides; rubbing strakes attached to each side of said tug and extending longitudinally from adjacent said bow to abaft said center of gravity and transversely beyond said tugs sides; and a barge having a stern indented longitudinally for at least more than the distance from the bow to the center of gravity of said tug and transversely for not less than the width of said tug, the longitudinal side of said indented stern defining a plurality of vertically spaced opposing pairs of longitudinally extending channels, receiving in one said pair, dependent on the relative drafts of tug and barge, said rubbing strakes, whereby said mg is rigidly joined onto said barge for forward travel with said rubbing strakes engaged in a pair of said channels and rapidly separated therefrom when said tug backs down out of said indented stern.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,345,970 10 /1967 De Long 114-235 3,362,372 1/1968 Peterson 114-235 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner 

